DETROIT — By rule, Kyle Quincey was not eligible to get his name on the Stanley Cup with the 2008 Detroit Red Wings. One must play either 41 games in the regular season, or one second of the Cup Finals, to have your name inscribed on the Cup.

But Quincey could have received a championship ring, having played six regular- season games for the 2007-08 Wings. It was up to his teammates in a postseason vote, and the verdict was: no.

The Avalanche defenseman still isn’t happy about it, either.

“It bothers me a little that I didn’t get a ring. That’s kind of a gray area, and they decided not to give us one. That’s their decision,” Quincey said. “It just drives me more and more to have an opportunity to get one with this team.”

Dividing up the spoils at the end of a championship season can be a touchy subject, as it’s up to the players to decide who gets a full share of playoff money, as well as a ring. Quincey spent most of the 2007-08 season with Detroit’s AHL team in Grand Rapids, Mich., but feels he contributed in his six games in Detroit and points out he was on the Wings’ playoff roster, though he didn’t play.

Following the Cup win, the Wings had some tough personnel decisions, and general manager Ken Holland chose to stick with veterans. Detroit put Quincey on waivers last October, and he was quickly claimed by the Kings, where Quincey had a good season, with 38 points. He also showed a hard-hitting brand of defense.

Colorado acquired Quincey in the summer trade that sent high-salaried winger Ryan Smyth to the Kings, and so far Quincey’s play may be producing regret in the Kings’ front office, as well as Detroit’s.

The Ontario native has been the Avs’ best defenseman in their 5-1-1 start. He has ably run the Avs’ power play from the point, notching five points in his seven games, and has been rock-solid in his end.

At 24, Quincey seems poised to become a star, and tonight he’ll play against his former Red Wings team. Despite the snub over the Cup ring and being dumped on waivers, Quincey did manage some nice things to say about his three-plus seasons in Detroit. “I was very privileged to be there and being able to learn so much from so many legendary players,” he said.

Quincey said he feels “something real good happening here” with the Avs, and his coach, Joe Sacco, has been impressed.

“What I like most about him is his poise and patience with the puck,” Sacco said. “And he’s a lot stronger than I had originally thought. I didn’t know much about him but, boy, he plays physical and takes hits to make plays.”

Colorado at Detroit

5 p.m., ALT, KCKK 1510 AM

Spotlight on Tomas Holmstrom: He’s still the same pain-in-the- neck player for opponents, with his camping in front of the net and ability to withstand all the abuse that it entails. Holmstrom always seems to score a goal against the Avs, usually a tip or rebound putback on the power play. Holmstrom has four goals this season.

Avalanche: Craig Anderson will get his eighth straight start in net for Colorado. . . . The Avs held an afternoon practice Friday in Detroit. . . . Kyle Cumiskey’s goal Thursday in Montreal was the second of his career and the first since January 2007, against Minnesota’s Manny Fernandez. . . . The Avs used Brett Clark and Wojtek Wolski mostly at the point spot on the power play vacated by the recent injury to John-Michael Liles. Kyle Quincey mans the other point.

Red Wings: Star center Pavel Datsyuk (upper body) won’t play tonight. He should return by next week, however. . . . Winger Johan Franzen (torn ACL) is out until at least February. . . . Defenseman Nick Lidstrom picked up his 1,000th career point Thursday. . . . Detroit recently signed former Av Brad May to a contract. May is a minus-1 in three games, with no points. . . . Star forward Henrik Zetterberg, slowed by a groin injury in training camp, got off to a slow start but had a goal and two assists vs. Los Angeles in Detroit’s last game. Adrian Dater, The Denver Post

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